Wildcats move to 6-0 with 65-55 win over Mulvane

The El Dorado Wildcats boys basketball defeated the Mulvane Wildcats 65-55 for their third league win and sixth straight win overall.

Josh Prim

The El Dorado Wildcats boys basketball defeated the Mulvane Wildcats 65-55 for their third league win and sixth straight win overall.

“I was pretty pleased with the first half. I thought we defended well. Travis (House) shot it real well and we shot it well as a team. The second half did not go quite like we hoped it would. We did not get in a rhythym,” said El Dorado head coach Gary Melcher.

The first half could not have gone any better for the Wildcats and after 16 minutes they had a 35-17 lead over Mulvane after scoring 25 points in the second quarter.

Junior guard Travis House led the Wildcat charge in the second behind three three pointers in the frame. House finished with a game high 19 points for El Dorado.

“We had some extra motivation to prove ourselves and make a statement to the rest of the state,” said El Dorado junior Travis House.

Last season Mulvane eliminated El Dorado from contention in the sub-state round of the playoffs.

Mulvane answered back in the third quarter outscoring El Dorado 18-11 in the quarter to trim the Wildcats’ advantage to 46-35 heading into the fourth.

“We came down the first four or five possesions in the second half and just took quick shots. I am happy and proud of them but we can still grow a bit more and I think the kids want to,” said Melcher.

The two teams matched each other virtually point for point in the fourth with Mulvane outscoring El Dorado 20-19 in the quarter but it was too little, too late.

The Wildcats sealed the game at the free throw line going 20-23 as a team, not allowing Mulvane to make up points.

Along with House, the Wildcats had three others in double digit scoring for the night.

Jared Haury scored 13 points and was a perfect 5-5 from the line.

“Coach (Melcher) keeps our heads in the game and helps us to not get mentally tired throughout the game,” said junior Jared Haury.

Johnstone Scott had 12 points and was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.

Trevor Crain added 10 points going 6-8 from the line.

Collin Just dropped in 6 points and was 2-2 from the line.

Sam Haines and Alec Hildreth each had two points.

“I think we are starting to gain some confidence in our ability to finish and I think when you see things tighten up a bit we don’t go in the tank. We have enough poise to fight through,” said Melcher. “I think for the first shot out of the chute after the break we have something to build upon.”

El Dorado will travel to face Winfield today and will be on the road Friday at McPherson.